Tag Archives: Celebrity Fight Night Foundation

Celebrity Fight Night, one of the nation’s most significant charity events, announces that international superstar, Jennifer Lopez is scheduled to perform at Celebrity Fight Night XIX on Saturday, March 23 at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. The primary beneficiary is the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, which is the most comprehensive Parkinson’s Center in the country.

Lopez just wrapped her ‘Dance Again World Tour” performing to packed houses around the world. The Golden Globe nominee will star opposite Jason Statham in a new film release, Parker, premiering Jan 25. Music artist, entertainer, actress, film & TV producer, fashion designer, entrepreneur and humanitarian, Jennifer Lopez has been called one of the most powerful and celebrated celebrities in entertainment. A portion of the proceeds from the charity event will go to the Lopez Family Foundation. The organization is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and women around the world (www.LopezFamilyFoundation.org).

“We’re honored to have Jennifer Lopez give a special performance this year. Her generosity and humanitarian work align with the vision of Celebrity Fight Night and will inspire a successful night of fundraising for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and other great causes,” said Jimmy Walker, founder and president of the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation.

During the gala, Muhammad Ali will honor Jennifer Lopez with a Celebrity Fight Night Award. The Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Awards acknowledge leaders in the sports, business or entertainment community who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments and have been instrumental in giving back to charity – key qualities associated with the Champ.

In addition to Jennifer Lopez’s performance, entertainment will include fellow Celebrity Fight Night Award honoree, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, and Billy Crystal, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rita Wilson and much more. Grammy® Award-winning leading lady of country music, Reba McEntire will join featured guest Muhammad Ali at the star-studded gala. McEntire will return as the evening’s emcee for her eighth consecutive year. Also returning will be 16-time Grammy® Award-winning songwriter and producer, David Foster who will serve as Musical Director for his 14th year.

Celebrity Fight Night premiered in the Valley in 1994 when local celebrities donned oversized boxing gloves for a comedic fight in the ring before 400 attendees. Today, more than 1,200 guests attend the event to accompany Muhammad Ali and other A-List celebrities. Celebrity Fight Night no longer features celebrity boxing, but by attending the event and bidding on live and silent auction items, each guest does their part to join Ali in winning the fight for charities.

Celebrity Fight Night Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1994 by Jimmy Walker to support the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, as well as numerous other charities. For more information, visit www.celebrityfightnight.org.

Celebrity Fight Night, one of the nation’s most significant charity events, announces that international superstar, Jennifer Lopez is scheduled to perform at Celebrity Fight Night XIX on Saturday, March 23 at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. The primary beneficiary is the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, which is the most comprehensive Parkinson’s Center in the country.

Lopez just wrapped her ‘Dance Again World Tour” performing to packed houses around the world. The Golden Globe nominee will star opposite Jason Statham in a new film release, Parker, premiering Jan 25. Music artist, entertainer, actress, film & TV producer, fashion designer, entrepreneur and humanitarian, Jennifer Lopez has been called one of the most powerful and celebrated celebrities in entertainment. A portion of the proceeds from the charity event will go to the Lopez Family Foundation. The organization is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and women around the world (www.LopezFamilyFoundation.org).

“We’re honored to have Jennifer Lopez give a special performance this year. Her generosity and humanitarian work align with the vision of Celebrity Fight Night and will inspire a successful night of fundraising for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and other great causes,” said Jimmy Walker, founder and president of the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation.

During the gala, Muhammad Ali will honor Jennifer Lopez with a Celebrity Fight Night Award. The Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Awards acknowledge leaders in the sports, business or entertainment community who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments and have been instrumental in giving back to charity – key qualities associated with the Champ. In addition to Jennifer Lopez’s performance, entertainment will include fellow Celebrity Fight Night Award honoree, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, and Billy Crystal, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rita Wilson and much more. Grammy® Award-winning leading lady of country music, Reba McEntire will join featured guest Muhammad Ali at the star-studded gala. McEntire will return as the evening’s emcee for her eighth consecutive year.

Also returning will be 16-time Grammy® Award-winning songwriter and producer, David Foster who will serve as Musical Director for his 14th year.

Celebrity Fight Night premiered in the Valley in 1994 when local celebrities donned oversized boxing gloves for a comedic fight in the ring before 400 attendees. Today, more than 1,200 guests attend the event to accompany Muhammad Ali and other A-List celebrities.

Celebrity Fight Night no longer features celebrity boxing, but by attending the event and bidding on live and silent auction items, each guest does their part to join Ali in winning the fight for charities. Over the past 18 years, Celebrity Fight Night has raised $80 million for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and other charities. Celebrities and professional athletes from around the U.S. join Muhammad Ali each year for this celebrity-filled night complete with live auction items and musical performances by many of today’s brightest stars. Previous guests have included Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Billy Crystal, Kevin Costner, Garth Brooks, Matchbox Twenty, Kelly Clarkson, Jon Bon Jovi, Robin Williams, Rascal Flatts, Miley Cyrus, Jim Carrey, Larry King, Donald Trump, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Randy Jackson, Sharon Stone, Lionel Richie, Bo Derek, Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, John Mellencamp, Chris Tucker, Forest Whitaker, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many more.

Individual tickets range from $1,500 to $5,000 each, and tables of 10 range from $15,000 to $100,000 each. For reservations, please call 602-956-1121. Celebrity Fight Night Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1994 by Jimmy Walker to support the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, as well as numerous other charities. For more information, visit www.celebrityfightnight.org.

Celebrity Fight Night, one of the nation’s most significant charity events, announces that international superstar, Jennifer Lopez is scheduled to perform at Celebrity Fight Night XIX on Saturday, March 23 at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. The primary beneficiary is the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, which is the most comprehensive Parkinson’s Center in the country.

Lopez just wrapped her ‘Dance Again World Tour” performing to packed houses around the world. The Golden Globe nominee will star opposite Jason Statham in a new film release, Parker, premiering Jan 25. Music artist, entertainer, actress, film & TV producer, fashion designer, entrepreneur and humanitarian, Jennifer Lopez has been called one of the most powerful and celebrated celebrities in entertainment. A portion of the proceeds from the charity event will go to the Lopez Family Foundation. The organization is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and women around the world (www.LopezFamilyFoundation.org).

“We’re honored to have Jennifer Lopez give a special performance this year. Her generosity and humanitarian work align with the vision of Celebrity Fight Night and will inspire a successful night of fundraising for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and other great causes,” said Jimmy Walker, founder and president of the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation.

During the gala, Muhammad Ali will honor Jennifer Lopez with a Celebrity Fight Night Award. The Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Awards acknowledge leaders in the sports, business or entertainment community who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments and have been instrumental in giving back to charity – key qualities associated with the Champ.

In addition to Jennifer Lopez’s performance, entertainment will include fellow Celebrity Fight Night Award honoree, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, and Billy Crystal, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rita Wilson and much more. Grammy® Award-winning leading lady of country music, Reba McEntire will join featured guest Muhammad Ali at the star-studded gala. McEntire will return as the evening’s emcee for her eighth consecutive year. Also returning will be 16-time Grammy® Award-winning songwriter and producer, David Foster who will serve as Musical Director for his 14th year.

Celebrity Fight Night premiered in the Valley in 1994 when local celebrities donned oversized boxing gloves for a comedic fight in the ring before 400 attendees. Today, more than 1,200 guests attend the event to accompany Muhammad Ali and other A-List celebrities. Celebrity Fight Night no longer features celebrity boxing, but by attending the event and bidding on live and silent auction items, each guest does their part to join Ali in winning the fight for charities.

Individual tickets range from $1,500 to $5,000 each, and tables of 10 range from $15,000 to $100,000 each. For reservations, please call 602-956-1121.

About Celebrity Fight Night
Celebrity Fight Night Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1994 by Jimmy Walker to support the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, as well as numerous other charities. For more information, visit www.celebrityfightnight.org.

“This is a great place and great organization,” said actress Melissa Peterman. “There’s a powerhouse of people, and they’re here because of Muhammad and the cause — they love what this cause does.”

Celebrity Fight Night, held on Saturday, March 24, featured live auctions and entertainment to help raise donations for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, along with many notable, smaller charities. One generous donation was made by Bob Parsons, founder of GoDaddy.com, of $1 million.

The live auction featured items such as dinner at Reba McEntire’s Beverly Hills, Calif. home, which included special guests Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson; this went for $1.8 million — three bidders paid $600,000 each for a chance to dine with the superstars. Another item that sold for $1.4 million was a vacation in Tuscany and dinner with Andrea Bocelli. Celebrity Fight Night XVIII raised a total of $9.1 million; the event has raised nearly $80 million dollars in 18 years.

“At this event, good people are doing great things,” said Sorbo. “I’m thrilled to be here, and I will keep coming back.”

Miley Cyrus, Lionel Richie, Rascal Flatts, Rita Wilson, John Corbett, Sinbad and Jackie Evancho all performed under the direction of David Foster. And Mauro Castano of the popular TLC television show “Cake Boss” provided the birthday cake.

While some of the guests have been attending for years on end — including Bo Derek, who said this was her 12th year attending Celebrity Fight Night; and Frankie Muniz, who said this was his fourth year — this was also a year of firsts for a few guests, including Castano and Hanks and Wilson, who made surprise appearances that night.

“I really had no idea how great this would be,” said actress and model Bo Derek. “Thinking I had been to so many of these events in big cities, this one blew me away. I think the support from the community and the love, heart and soul — it’s really unique.”

But everyone made it clear on the red carpet that night the importance of the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation and giving back, especially to the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. For Nancy Lieberman, former professional basketball player, she emphasized the importance of the research that will go into finding the cure for Parkinson’s. Hanks said it has always been about awareness and commitment and being able to contribute and help out in any way one can.

“There’s no reason not to be here,” said Tony Hawk, professional skateboarder. He added that, in the future, he hopes for the foundation to be “more prolific and better than ever” as well as for it to grow to more cities.

It is one of the nation’s most notable charities, raising nearly $70 million in 17 years, and this year’s nonprofit Celebrity Fight Night will be a particularly special, black-tie event — it’s Muhammad Ali’s 70th birthday.

Originated in 1994 by long-time Arizona resident, Jimmy Walker, the event featured local celebrities who donned oversized boxing gloves and entered the ring for a friendly match of boxing in efforts to raise money for local charities.

Two years later, boxing legend Muhammad Ali became involved in the event. Since then, Celebrity Fight Night has traded celebrity duke outs for live auctions and big name entertainment to help raise donations for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, along with many notable smaller charities.

With the annual event set to commence for its 18th year on Saturday, March 24, seven-time returning emcee, Reba McEntire; 13-time returning musical director, David Foster; and live performances from Rascal Flatts, Lionel Richie, Miley Cyrus and many more, will help to celebrate Ali’s 70th birthday and raise yet another astonishing amount of charitable donations.

As expectations for the evening are set high, Executive Director Sean Currie describes his involvement with the foundation, “as a blessing to be able to donate.” Marking his 15th consecutive year with Celebrity Fight Night, Currie adds, “going from a 400-person event to a 1,200 person event and raising millions of dollars has been an amazing experience.”

With the audience comprised of well-known celebrities, Currie notes that, “this year, unlike many years in the past has been incredible in the amount of seats we have sold, but not just that, the high-priced seats in the front were the ones that went first, which is something we haven’t seen in years past.”

Those lucky attendees will enjoy a night filled with live entertainment and live and silent auctions on items you normally wouldn’t be able to get your hands on. As Currie gave light to a possible duet with Lionel Richie and Rascal Flatts, the evening will honor this year’s 2012 Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night Award winners — Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals; Bill Austin, CEO and founder of Starkey Labs; and Diane and Bruce Halle, philanthropists and founders of Discount Tire.

“[These] are good people with strong characters that represent what Muhammad stands for,” Currie says. “Each honoree makes the world a better place through their charities and what they do in their specific field.”

In attempts to create an event unlike those in the past, Currie looks forward to the celebration of Ali’s 70th birthday the most.

“I’m excited for seeing Muhammad Ali excited for everyone to sing him happy birthday,” Currie says. “When you see his eyes light up and a smile come across his face that you don’t get to see as much anymore, it really warms your heart to see that you made a difference in his life and the opportunity to give back to many people.”

For more information about the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation, visit celebrityfightnight.org.